Large parts of Delhi-NCR and several northern states woke up to a severe spell of dense fog on Wednesday, sharply reducing visibility and throwing transport services out of gear. The weather conditions, combined with an intensifying cold wave, affected daily life across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and neighbouring regions.
In the national capital, visibility levels dropped drastically during the early morning hours, impacting both air and rail movement. Airports across north India reported operational challenges, while railway stations saw long queues of passengers waiting for delayed trains. Officials said that poor visibility on tracks led to slow movement of trains, with close to 100 services running behind schedule.
Air travel faced even greater disruption. At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, a large number of flights were cancelled, diverted or delayed due to fog-related operational constraints. Airport authorities confirmed that low-visibility procedures were in force, resulting in slower aircraft movement and congestion inside terminals as passengers waited for updates.
The Delhi Airport issued an official advisory stating that flight operations were being managed under CAT III conditions, which are used during extremely poor visibility. Passengers were cautioned that delays and cancellations were possible and were advised to check flight status directly with their airlines before starting their journey. Airport officials said ground staff were deployed in large numbers to assist stranded travellers and manage crowd movement.
Airlines also alerted passengers about possible disruptions. IndiGo, in a public advisory, said foggy conditions were prevailing not just in Delhi but across several airports in northern India. The airline stated that if visibility remained low, both departures and arrivals could be impacted throughout the day. Passengers were encouraged to monitor flight updates through official communication channels and allow extra travel time due to slow road traffic caused by fog.
Meanwhile, the cold wave tightened its grip on several states, with temperatures continuing to fall. Meteorological officials warned that foggy mornings and chilly nights are likely to persist over the next few days, potentially prolonging travel disruptions.
